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In the Community
Read about Lighthouse's staff service days and other activities we are involved with in the community ... read more
Local News
- Lighthouse Communities and Urban Pizza
Uptown Incubator, Urban Pizza to open April 1. - Madison Square Business Incubator
Madison Square business incubator has community backing for $1.7m project. - Flips Foreclosed Homes
Lighthouse Communities has several homes throughout Kent County that they are revitalizing. The positive investment and development of these properties will likely stabilize property values of the entire block, bringing vitality and prosperity to our communities. - Bringing in NSP funds to address foreclosures and blight in southeast Grand Rapids
Garfield Park and Madison Square neighborhood will benefit from an $820,000 investment in NSP funds allocated by the State of Michigan. Watch the video online. - Countrywide Settlement Funds allocated to housing agencies
Lighthouse Communities and other local housing agencies will receive funds to continue to stabilize the neighborhoods hardest hit by foreclosures in Grand Rapids. - Fighting foreclosures with Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds
Read about the effects of foreclosure in our communities and how Lighthouse will help tackle this issue through the NSP program by making improvements to foreclosed properties and returning them to homeownership. - Madison Square business district
Madison Square business district another step closer to becoming Grand Rapids' second CID
From the years 2002-2010, Lighthouse is projected to help make 700 homes and apartments lead safe.
- Lighthouse Communities' 5th Anniversary Report, page 8
Letter from the President
Happy New Year!
Well, another busy and interesting year has come to a close, and everyone is getting ready for what’s to come in 2010. Lighthouse Communities has seen more of our efforts and planning come to fruition in 2009 with the expansion of our staff and the continued expansion of programs and services throughout Kent County. Moving forward as the demands of our projects are of high priority, our infrastructure need will also grow with us moving to our new development office opening early this fall.
The neighborhoods where we have been working in to expand housing opportunities continue to be considered desirable places for people to seek new homes in spite of our economic woes. We feel we have, as an organization, helped promote that desirability and are proud of our ability to return many homes to homeownership. This past year, Lighthouse Communities completed the first federal stimulus (or NSP) funded homes in the city of Grand Rapids and Kent County. Many community stakeholders joined us to see firsthand the work being done in these renovated homes.
As we take a look at the plans ahead for 2010 in all of our programmatic areas – housing, commercial development, and neighborhood services, we are very excited about the New Year. We hope to expand our resident engagement initiatives and solidify our leadership academy. We look forward to continue supporting residents and community groups as we endeavor to add vibrancy to our neighborhoods’ life. We are excited about our presence on Facebook and the new look of our newsletters and website, which serves as communication channels to improve interaction with residents and community partners. So please check us out at www.lcgr.net.
On a final note, Lighthouse Communities will be hosting the 2nd Annual Community Spirit Awards on March 25, 2010 to recognize individuals and organizations whose leadership and work helps make a difference in our communities throughout Kent County. It is also our annual fundraiser and special night to celebrate with staff, partners and supporters of Lighthouse. Thank you for last year’s contributions and we look forward to seeing you again this year. Tickets and nominations are now available, so contact us for details.
Darel Ross II
President